When news of Mexican gang activity reaches local authorities in Durango, Colorado, the bucolic peace of the small town is shattered. Realizing the severity of the threat, the sheriff's office reaches out for assistance. With years of hard-earned experience, Senior Agent Buck Taylor from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is unquestionably the man for the job. As talented a sleuth as there ever was, Buck is known for his dogged determination. Buck's last case--a gruesome triple homicide in Teller County--has served as a productive distraction from the grief etched into his heart by the recent death of his wife of thirty-five years. Now, as he turns his attention to the trouble in Durango, Buck finds himself drawn into the dangerous world of cartel violence, drugs, and human trafficking. But as Buck focuses on the cartel case, the players in his triple-homicide investigation become more prominent--and deadly--than ever. With multiple agencies--including the FBI, the DEA, and ICE--converging on Durango and numerous criminals gunning for Buck's life, the stage is set for a fiery showdown. Crime Interrupted is a thriller that will have readers burning through the pages.
Chuck Morgan attended Seton Hall University and Regis College and spent thirty-five years as a construction project manager. He is an avid outdoorsman, an Eagle Scout, and a licensed private pilot with a passion for camping, hiking, mountain biking, and fly-fishing.
Morgan is the author of Her Name Was Jane, a memoir about his late wife’s nine-year battle with breast cancer. Morgan has three children, two grandchildren, and two dogs. He resides in Lone Tree, Colorado.
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Crime Interrupted by Chuck Morgan is a Buck Taylor novel. Durango, Colorado is the target of a Mexican gang, shattering the peace and putting lives in danger. Buck Taylor is a senior officer with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, called in to assist the Durango sheriff because no one sticks to a case harder than Buck does. A recent widower, Buck throws himself into his work to distract himself and finds himself smack bang in the middle of human trafficking, drugs, and violence. Investigating a triple homicide, Buck is up against some dangerous players. The DEA, FBI and ICE all join forces to bring the cartel down, centering their attention on Durango and culminating in a showdown the likes of which the sleepy town has never seen.
Crime Interrupted: A Buck Taylor Novel by Chuck Morgan is a gripping, edge of the seat novel. Right from page one, the action kicks off and never stops, gaining pace as each chapter passes. The plot is very clever and takes you on a winding, heart-stopping adventure as the main protagonist faces down dangers we could only dream of. One thing that makes this a remarkable story is that it is so true to life, with believable characters that you can easily identify with. The development of both plot and characters is well synchronized, details being fed throughout the entire story until it reaches an explosive conclusion. As this is the first in a series, there is a lot of ground being laid in terms of characters for the next book. This is a really well-written crime novel and I am looking forward to reading more Buck Taylor novels.
Crime Interrupted: A Buck Taylor Novel is the first in a crime thriller series by Chuck Morgan. It introduces fifty-eight-year-old, six-foot tall Senior Agent Buck Taylor from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. A former police officer, he’s now the Governor’s favorite “go to man” for criminal investigations. When a Mexican crime cartel shows up in Durango to establish a center for shipping drugs to other areas in the region, Buck is sent to help the local Sheriff’s office to investigate. As the authorities snoop on the criminals to learn more of their intentions, a plan supported by the FBI, the DEA, ICE, and local, tribal, and state police forces takes shape to shut down the criminal activity. What Buck and his colleagues find will amaze them and reach far beyond the city of Durango.
Crime Interrupted is an exciting story from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading it. Morgan’s narrative moves at a good pace and features an increasingly complex plot with a surprising twist here and there, and a cast of interesting, well-defined characters. The action builds as all the different players take their places on the stage. I really like Buck Taylor. He is a great protagonist. He’s not just a respected professional, but a good person, father, and husband still mourning the loss of his beloved wife. When he encounters young people being abused by the cartel, he doesn’t have to think too long to decide to go outside the box to help them. He’s also a humble man, and appreciative of his fellow professionals on the law enforcement team. An entertaining and suspenseful story that makes me eager to read the next Buck Taylor adventure.
I tried so hard to read this but found it near impossible. It has a great premise but it really is just a lot of short sentences put together without any flow, as follows ‘ Buck hung up from the Director and speed dialed Hank Clancy. Hank was the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Denver Office. Buck had worked with Hank on several occasions and they seemed to hit it off. Hank was a hardnosed, by the book agent and Buck knew if he could convince Hank of what they had, he would have no trouble with the others he needed involved. Hank answered his phone on the second ring. “I always hate it when your name pops up on my caller ID. It’s never good. How the hell are you Buck?” ‘.......I could almost hear Green eggs and Ham running through my head as it has the same cadence.......sorry I just didn’t like it at all,
This was a gripping and well-written action thriller that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. The author does a great job of placing the reader right in the middle of the danger, especially during the action scenes, which feel intense, realistic, and cinematic. Agent Buck Taylor is a strong, believable lead, and the teamwork between the characters adds depth and authenticity to the story. The contrast between the peaceful mountain setting and the violent threat of the cartel makes the stakes feel even higher and more personal. Overall, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful read with solid characters and vivid scenes. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy crime, law-enforcement, and action-driven thrillers.
*This book was given to me by the author at my request, and I provided this voluntary, unbiased review.*
3.9/5
The author does a good job of making us relate to the MC. There was a "real" feel to the book. The premise takes place in Colorado, over the course of a few days/weeks, so it was fast-paced and well written. Some parts were sad, but this book really read like a action-packed movie (a good thing), and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would recommend this author and I am interested in reading more Buck Taylor stories.
Audiobook: This is a fast paced, high octane, thriller set in small town America over a period of a week. What happens when the cartel takes over a sleepy shipping company to move it's drugs, money, armaments and illegal immigrants. This is very well written with well defined characters and superbly described interagency interplay. The narration nicely keeps pace with the action and characterisation. For me this was an all in one sitting listen. Very enjoyable.
Small towns have become a target for the Mexican drug cartel because they feel that local law enforcement can't stop them. They didn't figure on Colorado Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent Buck Taylor! This was a great story with solid detective work. If you like detective stories then this book is definitely for you! I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series. Buck Taylor is a good cop and a good man. The story and people are realistic, entertaining and well written. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series.
Cops, drugs, Mexicans, cartels, blackmail and slavery with a bit of small town USA thrown in. Enjoyable standard stuff with a story line which moves along nicely but it was a bit like reading a report rather than a novel which might be the authors intent.